The Bohemian Switzerland Ridge Trail earns place among Europe’s best
The six-day Bohemian Switzerland Ridge Trail takes hikers through dramatic rock formations, deep forests and breath-taking views — and it is now officially one of Europe’s most beautiful. The trail has been awarded the Leading Quality Trails–Best of Europe certificate, joining only 23 other exceptional routes across the continent. Radio Prague International went to see what all the fuss is about.
To receive the certificate issued by the European Hiking Federation, a trail must meet strict criteria – for example, the share of concrete paths must remain under 20%, and information boards and signage must be in at least three languages to ensure accessibility for international visitors. With the Ridge Trail being located right next to the Czech-German border, you will find signs in Czech, German and English.
Although the Ridge Trail, opened in 2023, passes mainly through the Bohemian Switzerland National Park, it actually begins further west in the Ore Mountains, in the town of Tisá, and ends just beyond the national park in Jedlová.
Along the route, in the town of Krásná Lípa, I met Daniela Simandlová, marketing manager for the non-profit organisation České Švýcarsko o.p.s. (Bohemian Switzerland). She not only works and lives in the region but also knows the trail intimately from her own hikes, and she offered an overview of what visitors can expect.
“We divided the trail into six stages, which means it can be completed in roughly six days, but visitors can, of course, adapt it however they like. The stages vary in length — the longest is around 23 km, the shortest 11. At the start and end of each stage, there is always the option of staying in a guesthouse, apartment or small hotel. The entire ridge trail is about 100 kilometres long, but the certified section is ‘only’ 84 kilometres.”
The trail can easily be tailored to your own needs and pace, but what makes it truly special is the variety of places it passes through. To get a sense of these, I asked Simandlová for her personal favourites.
“I really love the section between Děčín and Belvedér, where you walk above the Elbe Canyon — the deepest sandstone canyon in Europe. The viewpoints there are stunning, especially at sunset.”
She also recommended the “narrow stairs” near Na Tokání. I tried them myself, and I would more accurately describe them as a ladder wedged between rock walls — certainly not ideal for anyone uneasy about climbing through a tight sandstone gap. (Fortunately, there is a bypass for those who wish to avoid them.) The “stairs” are not the only adrenaline-filled part of the trail: the region’s sandstone formations frequently offer short climbs to reach spectacular viewing platforms.
Rather astonishingly, Simandlová explained that the original “stairs” date back to the 19th century and can be attributed to a noble family that played a key role in the region.
“The Kinský family created many of the viewpoints and trails here, and they had these steps built, too. More recent adjustments to the trail were made by the National Park Administration and the Czech Tourist Club.”
In the summer of 2022, the Bohemian Switzerland National Park made headlines for a tragic reason — the largest forest fires ever recorded in the country. Three years on, the scars are still evident: blackened tree trunks tower above young saplings. It is captivating to see the forest regenerate.
“I recommend a short detour from the ridge trail to the Fénix viewpoint in Mezná, built by the National Park Administration. It shows how the forest is regenerating after the fire and explains the natural renewal process. The viewpoint itself will eventually be surrounded by birch and other trees — also part of the forest’s recovery. For now, you can also clearly see Pravčická brána from there.”
The Pravčická brána, the largest sandstone arch in Europe, is well known to many from its appearance in The Chronicles of Narnia film. Following the fire, it is now more visible than ever. Simandlová emphasizes that, while some areas were damaged, a large part of the park remained untouched — an important message in the organisation’s post-fire communications.
Now, in late November, hiking might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but the trail remains open year-round — and beautiful in every season, which I can happily confirm. Fewer visitors this time of year also means a quieter experience, but some precautions do apply:
“If there’s heavy snow or ice, we don’t recommend climbing the rock castles or the steep stairs in the Kyjov Valley, but most sections remain accessible. Some areas can even be used for cross-country skiing, if tracks have been prepared.”
One major advantage of the region is its accessibility.
“What I’d recommend, which isn’t very common, is the ‘National Park Railway’. It’s a train network that circles both the Czech and Saxon (German) national parks. With stops along the route, you can hop off almost anywhere and reach the sights on foot or by bus – no car needed. Since the trail passes through Děčín, which has excellent connections from Prague, you can reach it in about two hours from the capital.”
And, like any proper long-distance trail, the Bohemian Switzerland Ridge Trail offers one more simple pleasure: collecting stamps along the way.
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